Internationalstudent08

I'm definitely going to try this if I get the chance!!! Not with a metallica t-shirt, but with something very close to that

That's a good point. I don't drive, but Boston is a bit hard to navigate around.

Boston is one of the few american cities where cars are not necessary. There is good public transportation (the T, the bus system and the commuter rail), and the city is quite dense with a walkable downtown area. However, the T doesn't run after 12-1am which was a pain. Also, getting groceries without a car was problematic too, but this depends on where exactly you live. So, if you are on a budget, try living without a car first, and see for yourself

I will be reading the June, July and August issues of Playboy

I don't think it's a good idea to buy an apartment. First, you will stay in the area only for 5-6 years. Unless you already know the area well, you will need to rent for a year before you buy, so subtract 1 from the no. of years above. Moreover, I doubt that housing prices have fallen a lot in areas around college, because the demand there is driven to a great extent by the young victims of the local landlords. If you do have lots of money and expect to sell the house at the same price you bought it a few years later, then maybe it's worth paying for the property taxes, instead of the rent. There should be some expected profit from this, but I wouldn't bear the risk because I can't afford it

Let's just measure and compare our penises. It will be more objective, more productive and certainly less (political correctness does not allow me to say this) than all the recent ranking talks. Just kidding :D

That's a great point too. They would say this even if it was not true. I guess I just (want to) believe them haha One more thing: Even if funded students do better than the unfunded ones, I wouldn't say that it's the same with the externally funded ones- and there are many of them.

I'm going to disagree with elcapitano. I was told by uchicago professors that the rank you get in does not predict future success in the program. Elcapitano is right to say that it's better to be a top student at a top30, rather than bottom at UChicago, but I'm not sure this dilemma is correct The placements the last 2 years were bad, but before that they were good... and it will take about 5-6 years until we get in the job market, so I wouldn't base too much on that information. UChicago's placements are still probably much better from the placements of the schools that funded benedictprosper. About the loan thing, Benedictprosper, don't expect TM forum participants to give you the advice that is right *for you*. Only you know what your future might be like, what your fallback options are, and how much your family can help. Personally, I had decided that I wouldn't go to UChicago if the funding differential was more than 50k, regardless of the ranking of my second option. However, I have different credit constraint and it may not be easy to pay back more than 50k in case I choose a job that doesn't pay well. Don't let this be a guide for you though. If you get a job in the private sector you will be able to pay the 250+130, and take an additional mortgage of 2 million for your house lol. What's 250+130 next to 2 million?

Say a hi from me!!! Just kidding :) Ok, now I'm picking the low hanging fruit. Hopefully Harry Lime will come up with something better

2+3. This is the second best and covers everything but stipend for the first two years

In at UChicago finally!!! If you plan to go there and we haven't met yet, send me a message

What you are telling me is very comforting. it's good to know that there is life outside academia. It sounds like you had a good deal. I wouldn't be upset to end up with 25 days of paid vacation per year. I want to spend at least a month in my home country per year, so that sounds sweet Anyway, back to the academia now :tup:

normal hours and not a lot of stress? That's certainly not the image I had in mind about private sector (not that I have first hand experience)

And I'll take you to the greektown for some freakin' gyros (assuming i stay in chicago). you will smell like gyros for a week.

I would bet that next year will be at least as good as this one, because there has to be a lag between X and Y here